Metal shingle and snow guard apparatus

1. A metal shingle comprising:

a rectangular body having a front, a rear, a left side, a right side, a top and a bottom;

a left part extending from the left side and a right part extending from the right side, one of the left part and right part being folded over the front and the other of the left part and right part being folded over the rear, wherein the one of the top and bottom parts that is folded over the front has defined therein a nailing aperture for receiving a roofing nail; and

a top part extending from the top and a bottom part extending from the bottom, one of the top part and bottom part being folded over the front and the other of the top part and bottom part being folded over the rear, wherein

the body is substantially planar and the left, right, top and bottom parts are shaped and dimensioned such that an array of the shingles can be positioned such that in respect of any pair of shingles in such array in side to side abutting relation, the adjacent sides are interlocked, and in respect of any pair of shingles in top-to-bottom abutting relation, the abutting top part and bottom part are interlocked; and

wherein the body defines a hollow location adjacent the one of the top and bottom parts that is folded over the front.

2. The shingle of claim 1 , wherein the hollow location extends beneath the one of the top and bottom parts that is folded over the front.

3. The shingle of claim 1 , wherein the one of the top and bottom parts that is folded over the front is the top part.

4. A combination metal shingle and clip apparatus, comprising:

a rectangular shaped shingle body having a front, a rear, a left side, a right side, a top and a bottom;

a left part extending from the left side of the shingle body and a right part extending from the right side, one of the left part and right part being folded over the front and the other of the left part and right part being folded over the rear; and

a top part extending from the top and a bottom part extending from the bottom, one of the top part and bottom part being folded over the front and the other of the top part and bottom part being folded over the rear, wherein

the shingle body is substantially planar and the left, right, top and bottom parts are shaped and dimensioned such that an array of the shingles can be positioned such that in respect of any pair of shingles in such array in side to side abutting relation, the adjacent sides are interlocked, and in respect of any pair of shingles in top-to-bottom abutting relation, the abutting top part and bottom part are interlocked;

wherein the body defines a hollow location adjacent the one of the top and bottom parts that is folded over the front;

a clip adapted to engage with the one of the top and bottom parts of the shingle body that is folded over the front; and

a protuberant portion connected to the clip to define, in use, a snow guard.

5. The combination shingle and clip apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the hollow location extends beneath the one of the top and bottom parts that is folded over the front.

6. The combination shingle and clip apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said clip further comprises:

a seat portion that, in use, occupies that portion of the hollow that extends beneath the one of the top and bottom parts that is folded over the front; and

a cover portion that, in use, is disposed in overlapping, close-fitting relation to the one of the top and bottom parts that is folded over the front.

7. The combination shingle and clip apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the one of the top and bottom parts of the shingle body that is folded over the front has defined therein a nailing aperture for receiving a roofing nail.

8. The combination shingle and clip apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising said cover portion having an aperture defined therein which communicates with the nailing aperture.

9. The combination shingle and clip apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a tab portion that extends from the cover portion of said clip.

10. A method for installing a shingle and a clip upon a roof, comprising the steps of:

securing a shingle body to a roof, the shingle body having a body front, a rear, a left side, a right side, a top and a bottom, a left part extending from the left side;

forming a hollow location adjacent one of the top and bottom parts of the shingle body that is folded over the front;

adapting the clip to engage with the one of the top and bottom parts of the shingle body that is folded over the front;

forming a seat portion in the clip that, in use, occupies that portion of the hollow that extends beneath the one of the top and bottom parts that is folded over the front; and

a cover portion that, in use, is disposed in overlapping, close-fitting relation to the one of the top and bottom parts that is folded over the front forming a protuberant portion in the clip to define, in use, a snow guard;

positioning the clip such that a seat portion thereof occupies a portion of the hollow location that extends beneath the one of top and bottom parts of the shingle body and that is folded over the front;

disposing the cover in overlapping, close-fitting relation to the one of the top and bottom parts that is folded over the front; and

nailing the clip to the roof.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising the step of nailing the clip to the roof such that the cover becomes substantially aligned with one of the top and bottom flap portions, except for a portion that is deformed by the cover.